An expedition truck on portals...

[Oilworker]

How did you figure that out?
Well I visited Simon van der Velde just before the final race of the Dutch Offroad Rally Championship (NK ORR) to have a look at his LR 110 Elephant.
He´s been racing with the BMW 6-cyl M57D30 for the past 2 years.

The engine fits pretty well into the Defender and Simon has also very well solved the adaption to the original R380 gearbox.

We went for a little test drive and ... well I was speechless, which does´t happen too often!

 

[Oilworker]

But until I will make my final decision regarding the new engine I am going to move the radiator and intercooler to the rear and modify the air intake/snorkel, too.

To put a little more pressure onto myself I set my departure date for September 8th, 2013.
I will leave spend a final night a the Atlantic on the coast of Devon and then head out east....

 

[mogwildRW1]

How did you figure that out?
Well I visited Simon van der Velde just before the final race of the Dutch Offroad Rally Championship (NK ORR) to have a look at his LR 110 Elephant.
He´s been racing with the BMW 6-cyl M57D30 for the past 2 years.

The engine fits pretty well into the Defender and Simon has also very well solved the adaption to the original R380 gearbox.

We went for a little test drive and ... well I was speechless, which does´t happen too often!

Video! Video!

 

[Oilworker]

Trev,

I could offer you this onboard-comparison which was shot during the finale of the Dutch Offroad Rallye Championship (NK ORR) in Hardenberg, Holland.



Left are Rick & Nienke Aarts in their Bowler Wildcat and right Simon van der Velde & Jeroen Tromp in the aforementioned Land Rover 110 Pro Truck "Elephant".
He´s faster on the timed lap than the Wildcat :Wow1:

 

[mogwildRW1]

That....is what I'm talking about!

many thanks, great video.

 

[tacr2man]

When you search thru the possible engine options the criteria you specified , are pretty much what I had been looking at , and the BMW was the only one that could get near . I spoke with Jeremy Fearn , and was advised that my original selection M57 TUD30 was a more complicated version of the M57D30 with pretty much the same end result . I am currently thinking about the gearbox , as I was hoping to stay with my solid case LT85 . which I consider to be a ultimately stronger box than the 380 . The power figures from the M57 are not far short of the V8 diesel rangerover , with far less complication electronics wise . JMHO

 

[Oilworker]

The BMW M57D30 has a few advantages.
It´s widely available and can be found at a reasonable price.
Very good engines can be found in the 2000-2003 models of the 7-Series and the X5.
Simon managed to connect the R380 to the BMW engine and has sofar run it without any problems through 2 full race season with approx. 300bhp (!)
Maybe he has a suggestion on how to connect the LT85, too.

Don´t forget to modify your suspension setup when you go down this road. You´ll end up with an awesome Defender

 

[X-plorenow]

wow, I can't believe that is a diesel! it sounds like a V8!

 

[Oilworker]

Today, while putting the final touches to my calendar for 2013 I came across a company I had read about some time ago but then forgotten.
ISAK 4x4 is an icelandic company that offers tours into the island, glacier expeditions and other stuff and they do that with Land Rover Defenders!





Seeing the fender flares that they use I contacted Svarvar Sigurdarson if they´d happen to use them on any 130s, too and if so he could tell me who made them,

Well, here´s the 130CC with these flares...



These flares are manufactured by an icelandic company called "Brettakantar".

So, if you need any wide flares for your truck, check out Gunnar Ingvi´s website: http://www.brettakantar.is/

 

[IceRover]

Hi Oilworker, my previous Defender is now ISAK10. The flares have a good fit and really keep the sides clean and clear from sand abrasion and stones, when mated to the diamond plate sidesteps popular in Iceland.

The flares also need to be lined on the inside to prevent paint cracking from stones thrown from the tires. At one time the cost effective way was to buy cheap foam camping mattresses, cut them to size and glue on the inside.
I currently live in Norway and am now on my 5. Defender a 2006 130CC (Defenders get into your blood ) unmodified as I don't need 38" in Norway, regrettably.
Best regards
KjartanB

 

[Oilworker]

Thanx Kjartan!
That´s good to hear.
Which tyres where you running/are on ISAK 10?

Robert

 

[Timo K]

Robert, I have a friend who might have just those exact flares for a Defender, he's in Basel. You want me to contact him? IIRC they were custom made in Iceland and had lead time of a month... You might get them faster and cheaper from my friend.

Let me know.

-Timo

 

[Oilworker]

Thanx Timo!

I have my fingers crossed just a bit tighter now as it´s picking up a little momentum again.

I have decided to go for a FORD 3.2l TDCi Duratorq engine, with a modified gearbox.
All my requirements and a few more are met by this engine and it has proven it´s durability over past three years in the Transit (non-US models).
It´s actually so successful, as I have just read, that it´s going to be introduced to the US market in the new 2014 model Transit, too.

For the wheels it´s still a bit difficult.
I won´t easily part with my Hutchinson Double Beadlocks, but as it seems sofar they don´t have the mil-spec rims in 17"x8.5".
Only my "WA-0492" in 16"x7.5". Sadly these prevent me from installing the ALCON brakes, but Ronald from TSSH has promised to look into that and have another word with Hutchinson, too.

I am almost done stripping the truck, too.
In January I will start with reinforcing the axles for the upcoming trip and commence with the new drawer system for the tray.

I will also move the intercooler to the back and may even move the radiator (something I started thinking about in West Sahara last year after the crash had almost broken my radiator, too)

The additional parts for the Safety Devices roll cage are drawn and should be ready late January, too.
I am going to add screw in brackets at the bottom (doors/diagonal) and across the back of the rear cabin (horizontal).

The suspension stays at is and while only receive a full service. The front left piston will be replaced then, too as I bend it when I crashed through that brick wall at 50mph in southern Morocco during the 2012 Sonangol Africa Eco Race.

The rear winch should be ready early into 2013, too and as soon as I have the final dimensions, I will start building the custom mount.

Most likely in February I will also take delivery of the new road-legal head lights. LED but a brand new development and not only bright but also good looking.

A lot of work but I need to seriously move on with ticking of things on my to-build-list :ylsmoke:

So long & have a wonderful christmas holiday, wherever you guys are!

Robert

 

[IceRover]

MTs

Thanx Kjartan!
That´s good to hear.
Which tyres where you running/are on ISAK 10?

Robert

I was running Mickey Thompson MTZ 38x15.5x15 on 15x10 rims. The tires where siped (cut) as well.
Regards
Kjartan

 

[mk216v]

Hi Jeremy,

sure I would!
Over here (the old side of the Atlantic) it seems like everybody is in some sort of "relationship" with the other and it´s difficult to find someone with an open mind.

I have been running the Mercedes G wheels from Hutchinson (WA-0492) which has an offset of 63mm.

My requirements would be a double headlock wheel with:

a) 17 x 8.5"
b) 3000lbs (1.500kg) min. load capacity
c) 84mm centre bore (would be nice but my tyre inflation system manifold could be modified, too)
d) bolt pattern of 150mm or more, e.g. 5H-150mm or 5H-165,1mm (I can run any bolt pattern on my portals as I can easily swap the lower flange)

Thanx,

Robert

Ok Robert, I'm putting TonyC from Motorsports in Portland, OR on the case. He's who has supplied many of us G-owners (Tony is a G owner, Haflinger owner, may other euros--very knowledgable in the Steyr/Daimler/Puch arena) with Hutchinson's. He is direct with Hutchinson.